On track to ease restrictions

Queensland is still on course to lift its COVID-19 restrictions later this week – despite a man passing away in Brisbane yesterday due to complications with the virus.

The man in his 80s was an Australian returning from the Philippines and transited through Papua New Guinea (PNG).

He arrived on March 20, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25 and died in the Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, late yesterday.

It took Queensland’s death toll since the virus began to seven.

Another reminder

“This is another reminder this is a deadly virus,” said State Health Minister and Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath, speaking at Clontarf today with Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young.

“It reinforces the importance of the vaccine rollout, making sure everyone gets the opportunity and comes out and gets their vaccine when available to them.”

New cases

She said two new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Queensland yesterday, both are in hotel quarantine.

It took the total to 55 active cases in Queensland. There were 5308 tests done in the last 24 hours and more than 3100 vaccinations yesterday, which now top 112,000.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said: “The slow roll back has happened. We had the three-day lock down, we had some restrictions in place for a further 14 days.

“At the end of the 14 days, assuming we haven’t had any cases, which has been the case, we would go back to where we were prior to the last outbreak.”

Vaccinations vital

The Health Minister said Queensland would then have some of the lowest restrictions in the country, when the current ones were lifted.

Dr Young also emphasised the importance of everyone to get vaccinated. “I’m in the over 50 age group so I will be, as soon as it is offered to me, getting the AstraZeneca vaccine,” she said.

To find your nearest COVID testing centre, symptoms and further information visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fever-clinics

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